The jalapeno pepper plant is a member of the hot pepper family and shares company with other fiery hot varieties such as tobacco, cayenne and cherry. Jalapenos are the only pepper that isn’t allowed to fully ripen and change color before being picked. Growing jalapeno peppers isn’t difficult if you provide plants with good soil, plenty of sunlight and ample water.
Peppers, including jalapenos, do best in loamy, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Full sun and warm temperatures are also important when growing jalapeno peppers. Jalapenos thrive in warm conditions and need temperatures between 65 and 80 F. (18-27 C.) to germinate. Temperature is critical, and unless it’s warm enough, pepper seeds won’t sprout and transplants won’t survive. It’s best to wait until at least two weeks after planting tomatoes to plant jalapeno peppers in the garden. In contrast, jalapeno pepper plants will not produce an abundance of fruit when the temperature is over 90 F. (32 C.) Although jalapeno plant care isn’t difficult, plants must be kept watered during hot, dry spells. It’s best to avoid getting water on the fruit; therefore, drip irrigation is the best form of watering for jalapeno plants.